Archer Daniels Midland Company was named as a finalist in the performance nutrition innovation category at this year’s Food ingredients Europe (Fi Europe) Innovation Awards with its clean-label soy protein, HIsolate 75/80.

The award is based on an ingredient’s proven effectiveness in supporting a sustained active lifestyle.

The HIsolate range features high-quality, plant-based proteins produced via proprietary expeller press technology, a method that requires minimal processing and retains the nutrients that are naturally present in soybeans.

The expert judging panel recognised the potential that HIsolate held to open up new, innovative opportunities in the sports and active nutrition markets, while simultaneously enabling developers to meet rising demand for closer-to-nature, plant-based products that are ethically sourced, organic and sustainable.

“Performance nutrition is becoming a multi-faceted concept that means much more than simply building muscle maintenance and strength,” said Ian Healey, editorial director, Dr Harnisch Publications, and a member of the judging panel.

“As active consumers continue to take a more holistic approach to their health, HIsolate impressed the panel as an ingredient that not only delivers sustained high nutritional quality protein, but also aligns with a wider lifestyle and social trends such as clean label, sustainability and the move toward plant-based foods,” he added.

Clean label, clean tasteHIsolate is a distinctive line of ingredients that contains up to 73 per cent protein, making it ideal for increasing the protein content of foods such as bars, vegetarian meat analogue products, cereals and snacks.

Available in powder concentrate or flour formats, its neutral flavour profile enables formulators to create highly nutritious-quality goods without compromising on the eating experience.

“Meanwhile, the health and well-being trend has evolved in parallel with the clean label movement, which sees consumers becoming ever more conscious of what they eat,” he added.

“HIsolate has been designed to support developers in capitalising on heightened interest in both high-protein and plant-based products, as well as in more wholesome, organic and natural ingredients,” Eder said.

“The Fi Europe Innovation Awards are extremely prestigious, and we are delighted that ADM was recognised in the performance nutrition category this year,” he added.